Today, February 9th, is Monday. On the calendar, this day is a festival for pizza lovers. What was once just a cheap meal for Italy’s poor workers has now become one of the world’s most popular and sophisticated foods. From the alleys of Naples to the bustling cities of America and even into space, this ‘cheesy disc’ has traveled far and wide.
The Early History of Pizza:
From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary Although various flatbreads with toppings were consumed in ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece, the birthplace of modern pizza is considered to be Naples, southern Italy. (Naples) city. In the 1700s and 1800s, Naples was a crowded port city. The working poor, known locally as ‘lazzaroni,’ needed a meal that was cheap and quick to eat.
Pizza originated from this need. These early pizzas used tomatoes, cheese, oil, garlic, and anchovies. Interestingly, wealthy Italian writers of the time looked down on this food, calling it ‘disgusting’ or ‘filthy’.
Queen Margherita and the Historical Turning Point
A major change came for pizza in 1889. When King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Italy visited Naples, they wanted to taste the local cuisine to break from the monotony of French food. Pizzeria Brandi (Pizzeria Brandi) served them various pizzas. Queen Margherita especially liked a pizza with red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil leaves—much like the colors of the Italian national flag. In honor of the queen, this pizza was named the ‘Margherita pizza’.
Pizza entered the United States in the late nineteenth century with Italian immigrants. In 1905, America’s first pizzeria, G. Lombardi’s, opened in Little Italy, New York. …began. However, until World War II, it was confined to the Italian community. After the war, when American soldiers returned from Italy, they brought with them a peculiar fascination for this food. In 1943, the ‘deep-dish’ pizza was invented in Chicago, giving pizza a whole new dimension.
Pizza by the Numbers
Today, pizza is not just a food, it’s a huge industry. According to one survey:
★Pizzerias make up about 17% of all restaurants in America.
★Every year in the United States alone, 251.7 million pounds of pepperoni are used as pizza topping.
★Approximately 350 pizza slices are sold every second.
★About 5 billion pizzas are sold worldwide annually.
You can see how popular pizza is with Americans from a fun fact: a survey says that 3% of Americans value pizza more than their spouse! Additionally, it is America’s second most popular fast food after the hamburger.
Some amazing facts about pizza
Pizza in space:
★ In 2001, Pizza Hut made history by delivering pizza to the International Space Station for the first time.
★The world’s most expensive pizza: The ‘Louis XIII’ pizza, made in Italy, costs about $12,000. It takes 72 hours to make.
★The world’s largest pizza: The record-breaking largest pizza in 2023 measured approximately 13,957.77 square feet.
Easy Homemade Pizza Recipe:
1. Dough: Mix lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then, mix with flour and salt, knead well, and let it rest for 1-2 hours until it has doubled in size.
2. Make the sauce: Mix tomato paste, minced garlic, oregano, and basil leaves to create the sauce.
3. Bake: Preheat the oven to 475–500°F. Roll out the dough, spread the sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings, then bake for 10–15 minutes.
Pizza is no longer just a round disc of flour and cheese; it has become an integral part of gatherings and celebrations. For the diet-conscious, there are now gluten-free or vegan pizza options. So today, you can forget your diet and celebrate the day by enjoying at least one slice of pizza.
Source: National Today, National Day Archive, www.7-eleven.com